Disclaimer:- Oh how rich I would be if I owned the Power Rangers! But I
do not, Saban does. This is the ninth fic in the series and you will be
relatively lost unless you have read at least some of the others.
Otherwise, enjoy!

Kimberley Hart sighed. She stood alone in the gym, seeking an
inspiration of sorts. Her attempt previously to come up with something
special to present at the Panglobals for the Freestyle floor routine
had resulted in that fateful scuba diving trip and the ordeal at
Muranthanis. Needless to say, that hadn't provided her with any
answers. And now, barely a week away from the competition she had
nothing to enter with, well nothing worth showing the judges. She took
a deep breath and did a few perfectly executed tumbles across the mat
and finished up even more depressed. Her technique was the best it had
ever been. Coach Schmidt had been correct, she would not be penalised
on technique. But her routine lacked that special something, that
glamour that would set her apart from the others.

"That comes from within" Coach Schmidt was fond of saying and usually
thumped his chest for emphasis. "If you do not feel it here, you maybe
as perfect as I am, but it will mean nothing." He usually finished with
a glower at their giggling response to his mock profundity.

Though when it came down to it, he was correct. She knew she had lost
that inner motivation, haunted as she was by the events of the past.
Since Muranthanis she had found it difficult to move with light and
grace, having been touched so deeply by overpowering evil.
She walked to the bench and listlessly picked up her drink. She felt so
alone. All of them appeared to be alone at the moment. She hadn't
actually physically seen Tommy for ages, nearly since the whole Turbo
incident. They spoke on the phone frequently and she could tell he was
hurt and confused by the way she refused to come back and see him. It
wasn't to do with him, or the relationship, but she doubted he believed
that. If there was one thing she wanted was to be with him, to have
back that feeling of togetherness, but if she wanted to filfill her
life-long dream she had to work at it - and a few days from now all
those dreams would be shattered in useless pieces on the competition
floor. She sighed.
She missed being able to talk to the other girls too, even Kat. She
felt guilty about that and she hadn't even been to see Rocky since his
accident, which was terrible really when she thought about it. Why did
everything seem so hopeless to her?
She put her head in her hands as the feeling of repressed tears began
to rise in her from out of nowhere. He eyes burned and her throat ached
with the strain, but her eyes remained dry and her features resolute.
In a sudden move she threw down the drink bottle and headed back out
onto the mats. Resolute and defiant she began her exercises again as
she thought to herself that if she did not find anything within, it
would not be because she had not looked hard enough.

Another argument flared in WolfZord as the Ninjetti continued their
quest through space for Allies, Ninjetti and Zords for the eventual
conflict with the Zha'Kha-ree'aa, the Darkness Visible. Arguing had
come to be a regular occurrence since Aquitar, almost a habit, that
substituted conflict for the more subtle connections that had existed
between the three Ninjetti. It was astonishing how easily they had
slipped into this pattern of constant bickering, but on this particular
occasion Trini believed that she might actually have a point rather
than just playing devils advocate.

"The Ronani were hardly the most reliable race!" Trini argued
vociferously. "Their concept of "relative truth" nearly got us all
killed once already. Following their information could be highly
hazardous and waste valuable time. I think we should forget about the
Chi'iten Empire and concentrate on something worthwhile!"
* Why couldn't he see that? They had no time to waste on fools'
errands! *

Billy eyes were ice-blue and uncompromising. "Nevertheless, the
Chi'iten Empire is massive, that much is obvious. They are an ancient
race, who.."

"Who have never been Ninjetti." Trini interrupted pointedly. She had
her hands on her hips challenging him to defy that logic.

Billy paused. It was a good argument, but she was missing the point.
"Fine, true, but who were reputed to have been Allied with the Ninjetti
in the last conflict with the Darkness Visible. Skye looked into the
Ma'rai Sphere, probing the histories of the Ninjetti and found mention
of them lending critical support."

"Oh, you got him to talk?" Trini said in a slightly softer tone.

Billy shrugged wearily "In words of one syllable. I wish he'd tell me
what was wrong." As he said that he met Trini's dark gaze directing the
question implicitly at her also. She turned away and busied herself at
the controls and the moment died in the air between them.

The trio of questing Ninjetti were not doing so well. Since Aquitar it
seemed like dissension had spread between them, irritating, straining,
pulling at them and growing progressively worse with each mission. The
fact that all three of them, in order to avoid the issues between them
had thrown themselves into their work and purpose with growing
intensity, meant the quest in itself was going very well; however, the
actual questors were not doing so well at all.
Billy and Trini ignored each other in a frosty demanding silence or
quarrelled privately in a fashion that would have shocked their friends
and family. It still amazed Billy that Trini could provoke him quite
the way that she did because he would start out with the best
intentions of remaining calm and she would pick at him and pick, and
pick until he totally lost control. Skye had wrapped a wall of
isolation around himself and was morose and withdrawn remaining
secluded in his cabin for long intervals only coming out for missions.
He would do his scanning and sensing in the briefest possible time as
if afraid of touching their minds like he used to with comfortable
familiarity.
Billy sighed. The more he thought about it, the more confused he
became, and the more confused he became the less he wanted to deal with
it. Still, they could not let the mission suffer because of their
personal problems. That was possibly the ONLY thing they agreed on at
the moment.

He brushed back his blonde hair thoughtfully. They had only the
sketchiest information about the Chi'iten, and they had been only
Allies not Ninjetti, but they were an ancient space faring empire from
all accounts. In sheer numbers they might even the score and they may
have technologies that could assist them.

"I think it is worth a try." He announced suddenly and Trini flashed
him a sceptical look that wounded his confidence but he stuck
resolutely to his course of action. Trini saw that he wouldn't move on
this point and with an audible sigh altered the course of the two
Ninjetti Zords to enter into what was reputed to be Chi'iten Space.

After Billy had summoned Skye to join them, all three of the Ninjetti
sat in a cold uncomfortable silence as they penetrated deeper and
deeper into Chi'iten space without any sign of contact. Billy frowned
as they swung through some outlying solar systems. They appeared to
have been inhabited at some point but were desolate now. It was an
eiree sensation, like tiptoeing through a galactic graveyard, waiting
for someone to jump out from behind the planetary equivalent of a
gravestone.

"We better broadcast on all channels." Billy said eventually into the
hushed silence. "They were reluctant allies, only forced to aid the
Ninjetti by a devastating attack on their homeworld. They may not
appreciate visitors." The thought occurred to him that they might not
appreciate the Ninjetti in general but it was a little late to worry
about that now. Besides, that would be admitting to Trini that he had
been wrong in his decision to bring them into this sector of space.

"What are they again?" Trini asked trying to mentally prepare herself
for the encounter. It didn't make a good impression when you recoiled
in horror, or just felt the urge to laugh compulsively at a new race.
The Shanrishu's resemblance to Munchkins had kept all three of them in
barely repressed fits of giggles for days, especially as they were a
highly formal and dignified race. Mind you that had been before
Aquitar. They hadn't laughed together like that since their trip to the
Ocean planet.

Skye looked up briefly. "The Chi'iten." he supplied in a soft voice.

"I know that!" Trini snapped sharply. She took a couple of deep
breaths. "WHAT are they?, reptilian like the Drakan?, aquatic like the
Aquitians? Avian like the Ronani?" She frowned at herself for losing
control so easily and at Skye too. He was not the one who she was angry
with, aside from him refusing to say what was wrong with him.

"Like the Edenoi?" Billy asked interested. They had passed by there a
just before Aquitar. From what he recalled of the Rangers trip there,
their race had evolved from insects but, of course, was essentially
humanoid in appearance.

Skye shook his head "Much more like very large bugs by all accounts."

The alarms began to sound a proximity alert and they all focused their
attention on the spacecraft approaching their position with great
speed.
A menancing cruiser with weapons charged and targeted on the linked
Wolf and TigerZords swept into view

"Raiders of the Klaxal! If you do not leave Chi'iten Space you will be
destroyed!" an implacable voice stated. There was the faintest hint of
a burr in it as if many voices almost but not quite overlapped. The
message however, was uncompromising.

"We are not raiders, and we have not heard of the Klaxal. We represent
Dulcea of Phaedos. We come to you as Ninjetti!" Trini announced taking
the initiative.

"Ninjetti?" the voice questioned sounding sceptical.

"It was long ago" Billy attempted to explain soothingly. "It is
possible that the Alliance between the Ninjetti and your people has
been forgotten."

"The Chi'iten forget nothing." The voice interrupted harshly and Billy
winced to himself. He had obviously made a diplomatic error. A visual
image suddenly appeared. And Trini had to prevent herself from gasping.
She was reminded irresitably of the time when she was studying Mantis
Kung Fu, when she had become exceptionally familiar with the form of
the Preying Mantis. Aside from being nearly six foot tall, the Chi'iten
appeared exceptionally mantid in form and even had retractable forearm
blades. It seemed to be listening to something before it suddenly spoke
again.

"You will be towed to homeworld. We are bound by the Original Covenant
between our races to hear the first representatives of the Ninjetti to
approach us after the Great War. Despite the significant time elapse,
you are the first envoys to have approached us since that time. The
Conclave would converse with you. You will be brought aboard our ship.
Prepare yourself." The tone was clinical and unforgiving.

Before Billy could answer, all three of them blurred and were suddenly
standing aboard the Alien bridge. There was a faint spicy aroma to the
air as they were approached by a group of six Chi'iten.

"Greetings." they said in unison "I am Vy-Ru-Sa-Mi-Ka-Lo"

The Ninjetti exchanged looks, mildly confused by their behaviour. Maybe
it was a formal title, so Billy decided to respond in kind.

"I am Billy, Blue Wolf Ninjetti Spirit Warrior."

"I am Trini, Gold Tiger Ninjetti Spirit Warrior."

I am Skye, Star Ninjetti." Skye finished their recitation.

"Ah, single unit beings." the six said as one, "We will disassociate to
this level."

One of the great insects strode forward "I am Vy. You are to consider
yourself guests of the Chi'iten Empire. Separate them."
Three Chi'iten detached themselves from the group and approached each
of the Ninjetti separately.
Billy's mind buzzed with questions and protests but they were swiftly
lead away from each other. He looked anxiously after Trini but with
their forearm blades unsheathed he believed they would be disembowelled
before they could morph. They had no real option but to go with their
"hosts".

Trini was escorted to a strange but luxurious chamber by the Chi'iten
Ru. As it didn't appear to be a dungeon or a jail, Trini felt she was
within her rights to start to assert herself.

"When can I see my friends?" she demanded as they entered the room.
Angry though she was with Billy she did not want to see him hurt; and
Skye they were both worried about.

Ru emitted a low discordant buzz of confusion. Obviously her question
was somewhat unexpected. "I do not understand. You are a single unit
beings? Yet you feel deprivation as if you were separate from a
collective?" the insect warrior asked the confusion evident in its
tone.

Trini nodded. "Yes, that appears to sum it up."

The mantid Chi'iten studied her with large facetted ebony eyes. "I was
not aware that single unit beings could behave in such a civilised
manner."

"Are you not a single unit being?" Trini asked curiously. The mantid
appeared to have her own identity so it seemed logical that she would
be an individual.

Ru reared back her forearm blades unsheathing again with an odd brittle
scraping sound.
"You would be wise not to suggest such a thing." the mantid warned in a
low muted buzz.

Trini shook her head, drawing in a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Having the equivalent of a large serrated sword flash out before her
eyes was unsettling to say the least. It was times like this that she
wish she could hear her Tigerspirit more clearly, though since Aquitar
she had barely been in contact with it and felt quite lonely without
it's warm comforting presence.

"I do not understand." She admitted shakily

"Be seated, I will instruct you." replied the Chi'iten.

She obeyed. If teachers at Angel Grove had had weapons like those,
homework would never have been late!

"Each Chi'iten is a part of a chi-lax, a composite entity of life-mates
and siblings, offspring and companions. I am Ru of the chi-lax
Vy-Ru-Sa-Mi-Ka-Lo. It is a small chi-lax, as only such are sent on
combat missions. A group of chi-lax forms the composite entity of a
chi-ix, chi-ix together for a chi-var and so on. The composite entity
of the entirety of our race is the Chi'iten." Ru explained patiently as
if to a child.

Trini was stunned. Ru seemed too...individual to submerge herself as
part of a composite entity. "But how can you be individual and one
entity at the same time?" she asked grappling with the concept.

"As each cell of your body is individual leads an individual life but
associates with others in a harmonious progression until you, the
composite entity is the result." Ru explained. "However the
consciousness of the cell is nothing compared to the mind that arises
from the interaction of all cells working in harmony. Single unit
beings are not civilised enough establish permanent connections with
their own kind, they are too self-orientated." It said with a hint of
superiority.

"Ah" Trini nodded, trying to grasp the implications of that concept,
and privately disagreeing with some of the mantid creatures
assumptions. Did that mean they had no sense of self, of self-worth? Or
knowledge, surely that meant that each chi'iten, as part of a
composite, had access to the knowledge of all other Chi'iten?

"Does that mean you know everything the others know?." She asked
steering away from the other more controversial questions. It would not
do to anger them when they appeared to be prisoners.

"That would only happen if there was a Singing of the Great Song" Ru
supplied "And that has only occurred three times in the long history of
our race. Other Songs have occurred for various reasons. Otherwise,
yes, we can share our memories within the chi-lax"

"Singing of the Great Song?" Trini queried intrigued. That sounded
fascinating.

Ru bowed her head raising her wings a little in a ritualistic movement.
"We are but notes in the harmony of the Great Song" and after that she
would say no more.

Billy had an informative conversation with the Chi'iten Mi. There
seemed to be no censorship on the information passed to him and he had
made good use of that fact. He had discovered that the vast Chi'iten
Empire spanned a hundred solar system each inhabited by billions of
Chi'iten and that they had been constantly raided by a nomadic space
faring race, the Klaxal. From Mi's graphic description the Klaxal were
arachnid in nature, though when described as venomous with a stinging
tail they sounded much more like a scorpion than the immediate images
of six foot spiders that had leapt to Billy's mind.
Of late, however, it appeared that the Klaxal raids had become more
frequent and intense, their aim seeming to shift from raid for goods or
profit, to wide scale destruction. The Vy-Ru-Sa-Mi-Ko-Lo Chi-lax (who,
in an interesting development, were the unpowered equivalent of the
Power Rangers on Earth) were one of those groups responsible for swift
response to reported incursions and attacks.
Billy mused silently on the potential of the Chi'iten as an ally or as
actual Ninjetti. They would be invaluable. If they could Quest for the
Great Power then many thousands of Ninjetti would swell their ranks and
if not, they would gain the support of their substantial fleet. They
had to persuade the Conclave to ally with them! He gave a wry smile to
himself. Of course this was assuming they were not going to be executed
on sight when they were brought before this Conclave. He ought to stop
getting ahead of events in his thoughts.

Skye, wrapped in his cocoon of imposed isolation did not even try to
strike up conversation with the Chi'iten escorting him. His mind
wandered over familiar ground and whilst he was distracted he let his
tight mind blocks slip just a little, enough so he could brush the mind
of the great insect next to him. There was something soothing about
touching the mind of a Chi'iten, like hearing a beautiful distant song
on the wind, almost out of earshot. He did not ask much of Ka but
rested, listening to the hypnotic melody of the mantid warriors' mind.
It had been a while since he had reached out to a mind. Ever since
Aquitar - since Alesto had destroyed his hopes, he had shut himself
away from Billy and Trini for fear they might read his despair and
their hope be crushed also. Hiding hadn't stopped the dreams however,
they became worse if anything as time went on. Sometimes it was as if
images lurked behind his vision even now.. Gently, without even
realising it, he had slipped into rapport with Ka - his abilities had
come a long way from the times he had established links with his
friends

* You are of Us! * mindspoke Ka in astonishment feeling the humans
mindpresence.

* I am human * Skye replied startled into wakefulness.

* You are of us, you are a Note in the Great Song, I hear you! * Ka
buzzed with excitement. * Join us. *
The massive insect turned and mentally allowed the rush of complex
distant voices vast and overwhelming to reach out to envelop him. The
Star Ninjetti recoiled. He could not lose himself in that tangled maze
of otherthought!

"I cannot...I am...too dark inside. I would bring only disharmony *
Skye protested. Besides if he did and they saw what he thought, what he
knew about their efforts, then they would never get them to sign on as
Allies.

* We shall see * Ka said calmly before silently leaving the Star
Ninjetti to his now, curiously empty, solitary thoughts.

The homeworld of the Chi'iten was nothing like how Trini had imagined.
She'd thought of tunnels riddling the surface, darkness and packed
claustrophobic chambers. Instead it was filled with soaring spun glass
towers that were dazzling in the light. It was hard to imagine an
insect race to have such a deep appreciation of beauty, but it was
plainly obvious that the huge Tsoma, or City-Nests had been designed to
not only be functional but pleasing to the eye and all the other
senses. As they stepped from the ship they could see the skies filled
with the Chi'iten gliding from tower to tower on glistening rainbow
gossamer wings. The place was filled with a rich spicy odour that smelt
edible in it's intoxicating flavour and everywhere ornate wind harps
and chimes, thrummed and rippled dazzling glissando's of sound. It was
all Billy, Trini and Skye could do to watch where they were going, so
enthralled were they by the dazzling sights and sounds around them.

They were eventually ushered into a massive light filled structure of
that strange glassy material that opened out into stadium like arena.
They found themselves escorted to a central dias and stood looking
about in wonder as, with startling insect speed, groups of Chi'ten
began to pour into the place in their thousands each finding their
place without any conflict or apparent communication.

"This would be the Conclave I guess" Billy said dryly looking around at
the multitudes of Chi'iten.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" Trini muttered with mock sweetness,
feeling nervous at the swarms of giant insects filling the arena around
her.
Billy ignored her comment focussing on the action around him.

Abruptly all movement ceased and a large mantid nearly ebony black with
age stepped forward and began to speak, with a rumble in it's voice
suggesting the multitudes of minds behind that voice.

"Ninjetti envoys of Phaedos - we admit you to the Conclave as
prescribed in the Memory Laws. Know then that our duty is done- we will
hear your words.
But expect nothing of the Chi'iten. The Alliance ended after the war
when the Enemy was destroyed." The voice was harsh and authoritarian.
It was now obvious that the Chi'iten were not overly impressed by the
Ninjetti as a whole, and probably not much by them in particular.

The three stepped forward, Billy in the centre, Trini on his left, Skye
on his right.

"Honoured Chi'iten, hear me" Billy began. "The Wardstones placed deep
in the Galactic void have flared warning. The Time approaches that all
races wished would not occur, that time which the Oldest ones have
guarded against for untold millenia." He took a deep breath, they
wanted formal? he would give them formal! "Take heed of my words! The
Sun goes Down. Beware the Darkness Visible!"

There was a susurration of alarm from the crowd.

Billy paused a moment letting the noise die down. "In accordance with
the Ma'rai Sphere containing Ancient Mysteries of the Ninjetti, we have
been sent to seek out Allies and those who can become Ninjetti spirit
warriors against the coming darkness!" Billy finished his speech on a
resounding note. There was absolute silence.

"We have our own problems" The Conclave said flatly after a few moments
consideration. "The Klaxal raiders that plague our Empire have a new
leader and a new weapon that devastates our cities. We have none of our
own to spare for an ally that abandoned us after the Great War.
Ninjetti did not help us when the one called Dark Spectre stole the
existence and Song of our Singer Queen in the distant past. You are not
worthy of our trust." It was quite plainly a dismissal and Billy
winced. Damn!

Trini stepped forward to speak forcefully when an eiree sound filled
the air, strange but unmistakably an alarm.

"The Klaxal come! They strike at home world! Whilst we have been
distracted by you, the enemy has caught us unawares!" The Conclave said
urgently. "All Che-var to emergency posts"

"Conclave! Let us help you fight the Klaxal!" Trini pleaded, thinking
maybe if they could not be persuaded by diplomacy, then maybe they
could be convinced by a demonstration of assistance in a time of
trouble.

"If we give you access to your ships then you will flee." The Conclave
stated. It still harboured feelings of abandonment, and was reluctant
to trust them at all.

"You question the honour of the Ninjetti?" Trini challenged with deadly
calm and was surprised as a blush of white shame flowed across the
Chi'iten.

"We have no time to argue. I suggest one of us remain here as guarantor
for our return." Billy suggested urgently. He looked across at Skye who
gave an imperceptible sigh and nod as agreement. He would much rather
go with Billy and Trini, but there was not time to argue this through.

Skye stepped forward. "I will remain. I am not the warrior of the
group, the others have much more battle experience than myself."

Skye watched as they vanished in their respective flashes of blue and
gold light. Left behind again. He knew they did it to protect him but,
he would much rather be out there with them both.

"It will do no good." The Conclave said fatalistically. "It is likely
that we are all destroyed - we have not developed a defence for their
new weapon. We have had to abandon world after world as they have
approached, and they have plundered and destroyed all the Tsoma they
have come across."

"Do not underestimate the Ninjetti. Billy is an experienced scientist
and warrior, as is Trini. He will find a way." Skye defended his
friends stoutly.

"There may not be a way to be found. Assuming there is, it will not be
enough to save homeworld as our forces have been greatly depleted. The
Klaxal will be within striking distance in a short period of time." the
Conclave stated with implacable finality.

"There must be a way! A way to protect the population..evacuation or
some sort of defence!" Skye said in frustration, clutching at straws.

There was a brief pause before the Conclave replied "No, there is no
viable solution."
But the hesitation was enough to fan the brief hope in Skye to life.
There was something that they could do. "You do have a means to protect
yourself... tell me!" he demanded becoming strangely assertive in his
desperation.

"A way that is not possible as we have no mature Singer-Queen..." The
Conclave said sorrowfully.

Skye blinked. He'd expected some sort of super weapon or domesday
device. What was a "Singer Queen"? "Tell me more!"

The Conclave declined. "There is no use exploring theoretical
possibilities. We must rely upon our physical defences and the
assistance of the Ninjetti warriors." but the manifold voice did not
sound particularly hopeful of any degree of success.

The Scorpion-ships of the Klaxal raiders were compact and deadly and
swarmed out of the darkness in a venomous horde. Trini flew the golden
Tiger-zord directly against their assault with a passion and ferocity
that astonished the Chi'iten, devastating the Klaxal first wave attack.

Billy assisted but was more interested in the data being gathered by
WolfZords' keen sensors. "Trini! Fall back!" he advised urgently
scanning his readouts. "There are large motherships moving in!"

Trini snarled to herself in the privacy of her Zord cockpit. "If I have
to take them on I will...what else is going to stop them?"

"You are not going to solve or save anything if you get blasted out of
the sky!" Billy said with a pained expression. * Please Trini, don't
argue with me now * he thought to himself.

Sensing the genuine concern in his voice, Trini spun TigerZord
backwards just as a Klaxal mothership fired upon them. The beam struck
a Chi'iten ship which, instead of exploding, appeared to warp, twist
and crumple inward like a grotesque fullsize version of a paper model.
Eventually it did explode but it was painfully slow. Even worse was the
fact that the area on the moon behind the ship did exactly the same,
twisted and deformed.

"What the ..." Trini gasped, barely believing her eyes.

"A molecular deformation weapon!" Billy announced horrified. His mind
shuffled idea's swiftly, formulating and discarding concepts. There
were similarities - molecular manipulation had been a frequent problem
with Rita, Zedd and Mondo. This time he needed to stop the beam, not
correct it's effects.

"Vy-ru-sa-mi-ka-lo...Do you have anything like a parabolic emitter
system that covers this area?" He asked urgently. He could remember
enough of the inventions he had worked on in the past to know he could
build something to block the beam transmission if he just had something
capable of blanketing the Klaxal invasion force.

"The systems communications in orbit run on something similar." They
replied.

"Good enough....take me to the central communications area." Billy
ordered already planning his moves. WolfZord sped towards the
communications space station, and the wolf ninjetti grabbed tools and
parts as the Zord docked on auto-pilot and he teleported to the control
centre.

"Hurry Billy!" Trini yelled. "If one of those beams hits the
Cities...and the Conclave.." She left the rest unspoken as she whirled
back into the fray.

Thee were too many of them, too many to fight effectively on her own.
Some of the tiny fighters began to scuttle past her deadly pouncing
attack heading towards the planet below. In front of her a squadron of
enemy ships swung back around at her and her eye was caught by the
flash of the lead ship against space. The pattern clicked - they were
following the direction of THAT gold and red fighter. Ignoring Billy's
shouts over the communicators she spun Tiger Zord on it's tail and sped
after the lead ship.

"Trini! Trini, there is a squadron of fighters going in behind the
moon! Behind the MOON!" Billy yelled urgently, only to see the Golden
TigerZord peel off and head in the opposite direction.
Billy worked frantically with the Chi'iten in the communications
satellite to try and adapt the system into a molecular deformation
jammer. He originally was unable to understand why such an advanced
race had such primitive electronic communications and why they hadn't
considered using carrier waves. Eventually it occurred to him that with
their species wide telepathy they would not have need to develop
elaborate ways of communicating - they already had the best version
available.
The fact that Trini was out there fighting did not aid his
concentration. Something was wrong, why had she gone after that ship?
He glanced up at the screens picking up the first explosions on the
planet surface with a cold crawling feeling inside. Maybe too late
already. He twisted the last wire into place with fevered haste.

"There - the adjustments are made" he said. "The emitters must charge
first..."

" It is too late to save Homeworld" One of the Chi'iten working with
him said mournfully. Explosions could be see in the planets atmosphere
as fighters engaged in aerial combat in a last ditch attempt to protect
the spun-glass cities.

"No!" Billy shouted "There must be a way there must!" He slammed his
fist against the metal console in a futile attempt to relieve his fear
and frustration.
"Trini! Trini?" he called urgently into his communicator and got no
response.

"Damn!" He ought to stay here, but Skye and the Chi'iten were down
there on the nigh on defenceless planet, and he couldn't just watch as
fighters closed in to destroy them all. First rule of being a Power
Ranger of any type, protecting the innocent came before anything else.

"Local Teleport to Wolfzord - now!" he shouted in anger and concern and
flashed to the Zord controls. As fast as he could he sped through
space, a blue wolf-shadow against the stars, to intercept the attacking
Motherships.

*You do realise this is perhaps one of the most stupid things you three
have ever done? * his wolfspirit suddenly wolfspoke.

* I haven't noticed you stopping us up until now * Billy retorted. In
fact his animal spirit had been particularly quiet up until now.

*Because I couldn't believe you could behave so un-wolflike * the wolf
spirit berated.

"This is not the time!" Billy said aloud.

*The way you three are going it might be the only chance I have! How
exactly are you going to take those motherships on your own? * The wolf
actually sounded angry with him * Think about this! There is a
difference between blind stupidity and courage in the face of
overwhelming odds. *

* Then get the Tiger Spirit to get Trini over here to attack the ships!
* he said frustrated. * Get Skye to reach out and overwhelm them with
his mind.! I cannot do this alone *

* You are correct, you cannot do this alone * the wolfspirit advised, *
but is this where your attitude as led you? You have behaved as
Not-Pack. * the wolfspirits tone made the phrase a vile epithet. * You
have allowed the distance between you to grow because you have not had
the courage to face the problem and deal with it. I mean you, I mean
the Tiger cub and the Star Bearer! *

Billy flinched as he twisted and turned from the scorpion-fighters
fire, more from the harsh words than from the physical threat in space.

"Fine! You are correct, as always. I can't lead as Tommy does, or Jason
- I'm sorry, but if you wanted someone who could then you should have
chosen one of them, not someone who finds communication a torture from
hell! I cannot MAKE Skye talk to me, any more than I appear to be able
to get Trini to LISTEN!" Billy shouted aloud in the cockpit.

There was a silence from his Wolfspirit and for a horrible moment Billy
thought he had driven his Wolfspirit away completely.

* The Star-one is being dealt with by other means, but the young Tiger
will listen only when you say something worthwhile.* It said quietly. *
But as all chances of change will be lost if you do nothing then let us
see about delaying this attack by the bitter scorpion spirits. Now let
them see your Wolfteeth!*.

With which Billy spun around to strafe the Klaxal mothership in a
desperate and futile attack to delay them from firing long enough for
the molecular deformation jammer to broadcast it's lifesaving
protection across the planet.

Trini, with all her anger and frustration focussed on the lead fighter
listened in on their frequencies for clues. There was something
familiar about the way it fought and manoeuvred that she couldn't shake
the feeling that she was going to kick herself when she discovered who
was leading this attack. The red-gold enemy ship twisted and turned
away from her diving into an asteroid belt and then stopped suddenly.
Trini, caught unawares shot past and nearly twenty fighters appeared as
if from the void itself. A trap!
A womans' laugh, rich with delighted evil finally jogged her memory as
she whirled TigerZord to face her attackers.

"Scorpina!" she said through clenched teeth. Always one for an ambush.

"I'm glad you remember me Ninjetti. I remember when you were a mere
little yellow ranger, and you are still as stupid now as you were
then!" Scorpina hissed in derision. "You should have listened to your
blue boyfriend and gone back - together you might have been able to
stop my friends the Klaxal, but with you out here...dear oh
dear...where is that legendary teamspirit..did you have a lovers tiff?"

Trini found herself with her face locked in a snarl of defiance
visualising her old enemy's supercilious smile.

"Shut up! We beat you on Earth, I'll beat you here.."

"Did I touch a nerve dear?" Scorpina said with malicious honey
sweetness.
"On Earth, I was surrounded by losers, now I am surrounded by fellow
arachnids, each with a sting potent enough to take out a pussy-cat like
you."

Trini reached for her Tiger-Spirit, trying to invoke that devastating
ability of the Tiger Dance she had discovered on Drakan, but her
emotions were too tumultuous, she was out of control, so she had to
settle for flying for her very life.
"If you catch a Tiger by the Tail Scorpina...you better hold on tight!"
She warned defiantly as she opened up her fearsome array of weapons in
a golden rush of destructive power. She had to get back! She had to get
back to help Billy and Skye.

Scorpina just laughed at her strong words, bolts of energy launching at
the Tigerzord from the tail of the red gold scorpion fighter. "You do
realise that your mutt of a boyfriend is trying to take on our
motherships alone? For some reason he wants to stop them destroying the
Cities of the insects, but obviously that is not important to you..
cats have no sense of Honour." The villianess jibed.

Trin felt a cold chill; the worst thing about this was that Scorpina
was right about leaving innocents defenceless. Once before she had let
a jibe about honour nearly draw her and the team into destruction, and
this time she was going to learn from that mistake.
She turned the Golden TigerZord around, finally resolved to abandon the
fight with her old enemy Scorpina and as she sped away she heard her
mocking laugh ringing in her ears.
"But you are already too late! Much too late!"

Billy flew Wolf Zord once again straight on at the Klaxal mother ship,
peppering it's vast bulk with explosions but very little in the way of
permanent damage.

"Remind me to upgrade our weapons system as a matter of urgency!" he
said aloud to himself.
He jerked back on the controls, rolling from a maelstrom of destructive
power streaming from the massive hideously shaped mothership, crawling
ever closer to its intended prey like a space faring spider preparing
to suck the life from it's defenceless prey. WolfZord was small but
fast and Billy, following the instincts of his Wolfspirit, tried to
hamstring the monstrous spider-scorpion by launching a Ninjetti plasma
charge at the propulsion system. The blast impacted but failed to break
the shielding.

"No!" Billy shouted. He had made himself vulnerable in his attack for
nothing. WolfZord was hit by enemy fire from all around, throwing him
from his seat against the control panel with a painful impact and
sending them spinning away in the darkness.
He had failed!

Skye paced the floor, limping still in frustration. A deafening
explosive roar ripped out the far side of the Conclave arena throwing
him to the ground with it's concussive force. Tiny splinters of the
clear glass like material showered onto him and using the Star Crystal
he created a small repelling shield to protect him from the piercing
rain. An idea occurred to him.

"You have similar abilities...to those I have whilst using the crystal"
he said excitedly remembering the Chi'iten Ka's words to him. "Could
you not project a shield if enough of you got together?."

The Conclave spoke reluctantly "In the distant past we could do this,
when we bred warrior che-lax to war on the ManyHives, under the command
of their Singer Queen they could do many wondrous things, including
shields and defences. "

"So..sing and protect your world! You say you never forget anything,
you must know how to do it!" Skye demanded with uncharacteristic
assertion.

"We remember - of all things in our culture, the Singer Queen is most
sacred." The Conclave said managing to sound despondent.

"And the problem is?" Skye questioned, flinching from another
explosion. The smell of acrid smoke began to fill the air around him.

"That the birth of a Singer Queen occur less and less frequently,
perhaps once in a generation - and the current candidate is too
immature to hold the Song. We try every planetary cycle, but She is too
young." The Conclave explained.

Skye muttered curses that the others would have been surprised he knew.
"But she knows how to do it yes?" he queried a desperate plan forming
in his mind.

"Yes, the knowledge is innate. But that will profit none of us for the
Klaxal motherships are nearly within range and there is nothing to stop
them."

"What if..what if I linked with her and became the focus for the Song?"
Skye blurted out. "With the Star Crystal of Sionas I believe it is
possible." To be truthful, he had no idea if it was or not but at this
late stage he was willing to try anything.
The Conclave had a brief conference with itself as fighters screeched
banshee like overhead. Skye had earlier caught a brief glimpse of a
familiar Zord shape chasing down the enemy fighters and his heart sank.
If Billy were fighting in WolfZord then his attempts to stop the Klaxal
with science must have failed.

"We will try it - there is nothing to lose." The Conclave said
desperately reaching a similar conclusion. "Prepare to be contacted by
our young Queen."

"I will attempt to be a...Singer for you." Skye said realising this was
literally his last chance. The Klaxal motherships were visible in the
sky above them. They looked like immense spider shadows crawling behind
the clouds of billowing smoke that spiralled heavenwards from all the
destruction.

"We must hurry!" He raised the Star Crystal high and called the power
to go within himself. Painfully he began to open the rigid blocks and
defences he had erected around his abilities since Aquitar, tearing
them down in a frenzy of self preservation. He became progressively
more aware of the roaring multitude of Chi'iten thought around him,
deafening like a mighty ocean swirling around his mind. A wave of awe
and reverence swept him into it's embrace as the mind touch of the
young Queen was transmitted through the minds of the insect race to
envelop him in a velvet smooth cool touch.

"Open yourself to me" the feminine voice echoed within "Give yourself
to the music within."
The harmony of minds swirled and he felt reluctant to push forward to
submerge into the Great Symphony.

* You must let go of yourself * her soft Chi'iten voice advised * You
are the Singer and the Song, and the singer is nothing without a song
and the song nothing without a singer. Together they are everything,
Apart they are nothing but potential. You must become one with the
Great Song, you must accept your part in the harmony of All things. *
She showed him the inborn knowledge, that innate instinct that showed
her how to take the minds of her race and forge them into a focused
whole, that meant giving your identity totally over to the acceptance
of the harmony of their minds and in doing so becoming their
mind-focus. Skye's human independence shrieked at the prospect of
abandoning it's importance but the Queen insisted that the Power of her
race could not be influenced by the mind, but by the deep instinctive
needs common to all, guided by the singer.

Skye felt the truth of this and with the danger they were in, he had
nothing to lose. He opened his mind, his spirit to the Queen who in
turn began to Channel the Song towards him. In his mind the energy
began to swirl around him drawing upwards in a tornado of light,
eroding away anything that he had set up to protect himself to keep
others out. The song was like a singing spear of light that pierced him
through. He channelled the Song through the Star Crystal as more and
more of the Song was added as it took on a life of its own he felt like
he was swirling away in a harmony that allowed nothing for himself and
stripped him of everything. Yet strangely he felt more worth in himself
when he was a note of the Great Song, because he was a part of
something so much more than himself, and yet without him the harmony
would be lessened. There was a need..a fundamental unconscious need to
survive the threat, to preserve this magnificent harmony and a part of
him coloured that desire with the Ninjetti ethos to protect and defend.
Somehow this theme rose through the harmonious minds to dominate the
Chi'iten song, and he pushed it's strength outwards towards the threat
as hard as he could, in the process dropping behind the framework of
the Great Song into emptiness.

As the deadly beams arced down towards the surface prepared to crumple
the Tsoma NestCities and Billy spun helplessly in the damaged wolfzord,
his side burning with his impact against the controls, he mouthed a
silent inarticulate No of horror as he was unable to stop the slaughter
about to occur.
Over the communicator he heard a familiar gasp and desperate cry of
"Skye!" from Trini.
And then, out of nowhere a shimmering dome seemed to erupt from the
city of the Conclave, which like a shimmering bubble of energy expanded
relentlessly outwards and upwards towards them. The weapons fire met
its surface and clung, producing coruscating light at the shield
interface, but then simply vanished into its dancing energy.

"What is that!?" Billy asked aloud to the Chi'iten in awe. He got no
response. He manually activated the frequencies, visual and audio and
all he could see were the Mantids apparently frozen midway through what
they were doing.
The energy swept towards them and even if he wanted to Billy could not
of escaped it's passage. As it passed through him, for the briefest
moment he felt the immense presence of the minds of an entire race
focused as one, and a sound that resonated like the music heard only in
dreams which fade with the opening of the eyes into the waking day.

At that moment, the jammer finally charged and blanketed the environs
of Chi'iten space with it's dampening field that rendered the Klaxal
motherships essentially weaponless.

There was an explosion of vile and strange curses and Trini smiled
sweetly.
"Oh dear Scorpina, did we break your toys?"

Their past enemy scowled, her plans destroyed by the strange shield
phenomena.

"You'll regret this Tiger Ninjetti! Our time is nearly upon us - the
Power of our Alliance has been growing and developing whilst Old fools
like Zordon and the Council of the Wise have tried to pretend change
does not occur. " Gone was Scorpina smooth self-assurance, and in it's
place an outpouring of poisonous threats. "Do you think the Darkness
Visible will not have changed in the aeons it has been gone? Do you not
think it might not be stronger than before? Think on that ninjetti
whelps, crawling in the dark seeking aid from races who will roll on
their backs when the Darkness unfurls over their skies! Then consider
the wisdom of the Scorpion who makes Darkness it's ally!" With that
parting vituperative shot Scorpina turned her red and gold fighter
around and sped out into space.

Skye drifted within the Great Song, having pushed himself behind the
incredible sound into the silence that made it all possible.
And here there was a voice, a voice that sounded like his own thoughts
coming unbidden into his mind.
* You have found me again * a thought said in his head * As I found you
those many years ago and made you mine *

Skye felt a thrilling recognition. * The Nameless One * he identified.

There was the impression of laughter. *In some ways, yes, in others
completely wrong. I have no name and I have the only name, and in
singing a part of that Name you have come to me * The voice appeared to
say.

Skye felt a chill as he thought back to Aquitar. * I'm not sure that I
want to be here. *

*What does tasting bitterness over and over benefit you? Let it go,
swallow it and accept it.*

Skye railed into the darkness. * How can I? I was told....I was told
there was no hope. The Prophecies all show that this time we will
probably not win, that whatever we do my friends will be destroyed, I
will be destroyed, everything will be destroyed! You brought me back,
put me, put all of us through that for nothing?! *

* Not for nothing, never for nothing * came the soothing response.

* But you are the source of the prophecies! * Skye pointed out.

*It is more complex than that. I would not bring you back if there were
not hope. I would not have intervened directly at all if there were not
more to this than even the Prophecies forsee. You must understand that
there is always hope and you and you friends and what you do, is the
focus of that hope. You must reconnect them. It will be vital *. There
was no mistaking the sense of urgency in that message.

Skye felt the darkness on him lift slightly.

* Then the Prophecies are false? * he asked hopefully.

* Let it be said they are incomplete, but what has been said cannot be
unsaid. But in what has been unsaid lies the potential for salvation.
The Danger is greater than is written, but brings with it more choices
than before. Learn to exist in that paradox my son, that is the most
important thing of all. *
Still flowing in the song Skye felt these words in the deepest most
private parts of himself.

*I will, but how can the danger be greater than is written? * he asked
with trepidation. * The Darkness Visible is the potent force of evil
ever experienced by this Galaxy.*

* True, but it is a child compared to other forces in the universe.
There are many things more Evil or dangerous that exist. Beyond every
Evil another greater darkness lies in wait.*

* Then if it is but a Child to you, then why are you involved? * Skye
challenged the voiceless words.

* Because a child sometimes has not learnt that playing with matches
can destroy as easily as it can illuminate. In that ignorance of danger
they can set into motion catastrophic events that more powerful being
would never consider out of self-preservation. A child will press a
button not realising it is connected to a bomb that could destroy
everything.* The chilling knowledge appeared in his mind. Skye
shuddered. The implications were not good.

* Now return...you have travelled far to reach me...we will be together
soon enough. * came the whispered parting before the Presence
disappeared and Skye was floating in the Song once more.

It was fading around him as the threat perceived to the Great Song had
faded away and he struck upwards pulling himself back to his single
unit state. It was hard, very hard. All that time (how long?) being a
part of the Song to return to being a note. The paradox was that being
a note was being the Song! You turned from one to the other, focussing
it through yourself and....

Kimberley sat up in bed, in the darkness of her dorm room her mind
filled with the most incredible sound, resonating, filling her with
harmony and light. Like the music of the spheres it was totally
indescribable but filled her with a wild exaltation. She wanted to
laugh and cry, leap up and stay still, run out into the corridors to
tell the world and keep this for herself. It was not the ghost memory
of a dream it was happening now! For this time, this moment she was in
completely and utterly connected with everything.
She leapt out of bed and heedless of her appearance ran down the dimly
lit corridor to the practice hall. It's moonlit mat seem oddly
illuminated by the purity of the sound in her mind and it's infinite
variety. She began to move to the internal music, letting it sweep her
in its harmony and sliding so easily into that elusive "something" that
she had been seeking all this time. The improvised routine was an
expression of this unity and strength inside and was more moving, more
natural than anything she had slaved over in the past few months. She
finished just as the sensation ended, spiralling away into a distant
silence and she murmured "Protection, unity and protection, harmony is
strength." This was what it had been like as a Power Ranger, in touch
with the Power, part of the team, using their added strength and
togetherness to protect the greater harmonies of the Earth. This is
what she would show them! Inside she had that wildfire feeling of a
nervous expectancy, of something being required of her. This was what
she would share, and through it she knew what she would try and do. Kim
sat alone in the silvered moonlight and smiled an exultant secret
smile.

Without warning the shimmering shield ceased in an instant and the
Chi'iten were released. They lifted their forearms and spread their
rainbow wings in a very ritualistic movement, but Billy was more
interested in seeing if his friends were safe, especially Skye. He had
at least heard Trini over the communicator. As hard as he had tried he
had been unable to prevent some of the attacks on the Tsoma NestCity
where the Conclave arena was based and where they had left their friend
for 'safe keeping'.

"Skye?" Billy called into his communicator with an edge of desperation
"Skye!?".
There was no response.

"Trini?" he queried, though he had heard her voice over the
communicator.

"Here." Trini replied tiredly "and before you ask, no contact from
Skye." They both paused in silence for a moment. Trini closed into
visual range of the damaged WolfZord.

Her eyes widened at the results of Billy's close encounter with the
Klaxal Mothership. "Billy!? Are you okay? It looks like that giant
spider-scorpion chewed you up and spat you out again."

"I'm fine, a bit battered but fine." He brushed off her concern. "I
cannot control WolfZord at all until the Zebeedees have finished
repairing it and we have to get to the planet now!"

"I'll pick you up." Trini said her attention divided between her
concern for Billy and for Skye. She felt sick at the sight of the
damage. If she had been there, this would not have happened! If they
had all stuck together then Skye would be answering, Billy would not
have been in danger or hurt and maybe there would not have been so much
damage to the planet.

They teleported to the Conclave only to still hear a deafening chorus
of song from every Chi'iten ,all standing with rainbow wings unfurled
in the same manner. Trini and Billy pushed through the hosts of insects
to the Conclave Chamber. Even through the crowds they could Skye's
sprawled body lying on the floor of the chamber. Billy ran through the
Chi'iten chorus, to his friend, terrified that there might be a deathly
stillness about him. Quite the opposite, Skye's chest was heaving, his
muscles trembling and he was covered in perspiration as if he had been
doing something inhumanely strenuous. The Star Ninjetti was gasping for
breath and seemingly exhausted, but he was conscious.

"Here." Trini said bringing some water and helping him take a sip. He
coughed and Trini poured some of the water over him to help cool him
down. All around them the song continued, until Billy began to get
irritated. Here was their friend on the verge of collapse and they were
just singing!
Fortunately, Vy-Ru-Sa-Ka-mi-La arrived and Ka approached with some sort
of medication that calmed the Ninjetti rapidly. Billy was relieved and
then surprised as he felt Skye's mindtouch reached out to him and
Trini.

* I'm fine...tired but fine * his mind voice said. There was a brief
smile before he said aloud. "But this..time...I didn't go to sleep on
the job!" he gasped out triumphantly.

"Don't tire yourself anymore" Billy admonished smiling at the private
joke. Skye smiled back and sat up with some help.

"Now I know singing is such hard work, I will never laugh at Tanya ever
again!" He cracked with a tiny bit of his old humour.

The singing stopped suddenly and the Chi'iten bowed with deepest
respect to the Ninjetti.

The Voice of the Conclave spoke. "Che-lax Billy-Trini-Skye you have
done us a great honour."

"Then you will join our cause?" Billy asked eagerly. In all the
excitement he had nearly forgotten their purpose in being here in the
first place. " You will join with the Ninjetti against the forces of
the Zha'Kha-ree'aa?"

The Ebony Chi'iten said "You are a che-lax with a Singer...He may not
be a Singer Queen and a mother to our Race..."

"I should hope not" Skye muttered.

" But he has held the Song in his heart, and if he can do that, then he
holds the Chi'iten in his heart also. A Singer may not be denied! And
your Singer took us to the depths of the Great Song, encompassing the
great mysteries. Our entire race would follow the Song that your Singer
has brought forth from the Great Song. But know now that the passion
with which you fought on our behalf and the advances and inventions
that will preserve our kind against the Klaxal would have proven your
worth. The Chi'iten will be with you as Ninjetti and in whatever manner
required." The Conclave stated unequivocally.

Billy smiled with relief. They had done it! "It is my hope that
Ninjetti Chi'iten will fight alongside Ninjetti of all species against
the enemy."

"In unity is the course of wisdom" the Conclave intoned. "We ally
ourselves with the Ninjetti Spirit Warriors. When the time comes we
will follow the Song of unity and protection which your Singer has
shown to us."

Skye managed a brief bow in acknowledgement with the support of his
friends. "I thankyou for everything" he said fervently. "For giving me
this experience." They bowed in response.

The whitehaired artist smiled and glanced across at his friends "The
strange thing is I can't carry a tune or sing a note!" he said as an
aside and Billy and Trini found themselves chuckling together for the
first time in ages.

Zack Taylor wasn't going to miss this for the world. He'd finished at
the Peace Conference and frankly he was glad. After Jason had left, and
then Trini, without his friends there is ceased to be fun, it ceased to
be worthwhile to him. He came to realise that without his friends very
little had value for him any more. So here he was, at the Panglobals
trying to make a fragile connection to his past and those heady days
that seemed so far away, almost like another life. He had managed to
get here to see Kim in the finals. She had been doing well, but the
judges seemed to like the more classical style of the Eastern gymnasts.
It all came down to this last event, the freestyle routine, if she did
well here she was likely to get a medal, if exceptionally well a chance
at the gold itself. Whilst he waited he looked around restlessly. And
stopped suddenly. The hairs prickled on the back of his neck as he
caught sight of a tantalisingly familiar profile to the right of him a
few rows down. He was trying to put his finger on it when the young
woman, obviously feeling eyes on her turned her head and looked for her
mystery observer.
She was beautiful! He was sure he knew her and he was just trying to
recollect from where when she met his gaze and gave a quizzical grin.
Emboldened, Zach stepped forward and as he did so his loose sleeve
rolled up exposing for a moment the "retirement present" communicator
Billy had give to him before he had left that he wore more often then
not. It was basically only a watch but patterned in sleek black it was
stylish, comfortable and familiar. The beautiful stranger's eyes
widened in surprise as she caught a glimpse of it and she casually
brushed her sleeve back revealing a similar yellow communicator. Like a
trigger mechanism, his memories came rushing back. He had not known her
for very long at all but he did know her!

"Aisha!" he stated rather than called.

Her smile broadened with recognition and lit up her face. "Zack?"

"Glad to see I'm not totally forgettable!" he said only half joking.
"You here with any of the others?"

"Well you know...I wasn't entirely sure that" she began awkwardly "I
just couldn't bear the thought of being a total stranger to them,
walking up to them and seeing blank expressions...but I didn't want to
miss our Kim's big moment!" She sighed. "We were the closest of friends
for a long time."

Zack was trying to cope with the fact Aisha had become a stunningly
beautiful woman. They had barely met before they had gone to the Peace
Conference and she looked fantastic. She's looked good before of course
but now he really was in a position to appreciate the difference
whereas before he had been single-mindedly pursuing Angela.

"Zack?"

"Hmm?"

"I asked if you were here with any of them..you know?" Aisha asked
curiously.

Zack shook his head slowly. "It's just, well you know, after we gave
up, well it would be uncomfortable. I expect they are here though." In
fact he was sure he had seen Tommy by the arena edge, but he hadn't
seen him for a long time.

"I wonder if Adam and Rocky remember me?" Aisha said in a quiet sad
voice. She still remembered growing up with them, being the closest of
friends, and the thought that they might not know her because of the
Time distortion hurt her deeply.

Zack felt a spurt of jealousy and then berated himself for being
ridiculous. He gave a wide grin "I can't see how anyone could forget
you Aisha." He said gallantly and receive a genuine smile in return.

"Seriously though - Isn't this a long way to come just to see Kim?" he
asked "I mean, I heard that you were in Africa?." From Billy of all
people. He wondered what he was doing at the moment. Surely he would be
here to see Kim in her moment of glory?

"Actually, I got a scholarship to any university I wanted funded on the
basis of my research with the Plague and the cure we eventually found."
Aisha replied and then surprised him again. "I selected Angel Grove
University - I wanted to come home."

"Really?" Zack said in surprise "Not that you want to come home but
that you are going to Angel Grove Uni? I'm registering on Monday too!"

Aisha looked genuinely pleased " In that case, can I meet you and go
together?"

"Can we ever! Yes...how about.." Zack began excitedly but was
interrupted by the tanoy announcing the turn of Miss Kimberley Hart,
performing her freestyle routine called "Touching the Sky." A small
graceful and familiar figure walked out onto the mats to finally
realise a cherished dream.

Kim raised her arms into the start position and took several deep
breaths. As her simple melodic music began, in her mind she called for
the memory of that incredible harmony that had resonated through her
being and began her unique routine, carried along by that incredible
internal song.

The entire audience of the Panglobals appeared struck silent by the
routine being performed in front of them. Tommy watched, his eyes
riveted on the graceful form as Kimberley Hart, one of Angel Grove's
own, moved with Power and transcendent grace in front of the judges, in
front of the world.

"I never knew..." he whispered under his breath. He had never realised
the depth of passion Kimberley had to succeed in her gymnastics. He had
known she was good, but this was something else. Now he could
understand why she had left to try for the Panglobals, why they had not
seen each other very often over the last few months, what she had meant
when she said she was looking for something special.

"Oh Beautiful...you found it all right, you found it and you are
showing the world your heart." He murmured, his mouth dry with the
sheer strength of the performance.

Glowing white and brilliant in her white team leotard she was
performing the most incredible moves as if she was dancing on air,
dancing to a deeper Song than the gentle lyric melody accompanying her.
Somehow she created an impression of moving in harmony with the world,
with the air, with the light around her and the strength, that inner
balance gave her shone through the required techniques for her piece.
She did not place a foot wrong and when she finally ceased moving and
raised her arms in the traditional ending for a routine there was a
moment of absolute silence before the stadium erupted into an uproar of
cheering and a standing ovation.
Tommy ran unerringly from his seat across to where she was and swept
her into his arms in jubilation as the crowd roared around them.

In a small voice in his ear he heard her say "Do you think I did okay?"
and he looked into her dark eyes and laughed. "Oh Beautiful...you've
set the place afire....they'll never see anything like that again!
You've got the gold for sure."

Around them the roar of the crowd increased in volume as the judges
concurred with Tommy's opinion. Kim's dark eyes were glittering with
unshed tears of jubilation and over Tommy's shoulder she could see
Coach Schmidt standing, staring at the scoreboard, with tears pouring
down his face usually stern face. She had fulfilled not only her own
lifelong dream but his as well. She was glad for him that she had
finally managed to repay him for helping her achieve her own ambition.

People were beginning to rush up to join them and she whispered in the
ex-rangers ear urgently. "Did you understand? Do you know what we must
do?" before she was helplessly pulled away from him by her over excited
team mates.
Tommy laughed as he watched her, her eyes constantly seeking him
through the crowds. He knew, he understood. He would have to have been
blind not to see her dance who and what they were and what it meant in
that routine. How they would do it he didn't know, but at this point in
time, caught up in the euphoria of the moment he strangely had no doubt
that they would somehow find a way. He smiled at her happiness, the
confusion of the last few months swept away in a moment of
understanding.

"Oh yeah." He murmured silently to her as the crowds continue roar like
a mighty ocean of approval. He grinned again relishing the thought of
what they should do, which suddenly seemed so clear and obvious to him
in the light of Kim's performance. It would be difficult, as in the
time since Billy and Skye had left, and particularly after they had all
passed on the Turbo powers there had been a subtle but definite pulling
away from each other.
But as his Falcon spirit had once said. * Anything is possible if you
will it to be so. But possible is not the same as easy and all things
worth having have to be fought for at some point*

Tommy grinned as a sense of purpose descended upon him once again and
he sought out Kimberley's glowing face in all the excitement and said
silently in a promise to her,